Hi Sara
I had one Guinea hen go broody and make a nest with around 30 eggs - far too many of her to sit on so we removed half and put them under chickens and left her with the rest. Last Monday 7 hatcged but one died - suffocation I think a it was a bit cramped in the nest! The chickens hatched 4 so 11 hatcted from about 30 eggs. We removed the surviving 10 to a brooder and mum made a huge fuss and abandoned the nest however, we now have another hen with a nest and several eggs which she is sitting on. Once it reaches 'enough' for the size we will remove excess and let the hens do the 'work'!
Is there a 'hatch' rate in the wild? Or does it vary considerably? Anyway I am glad to have more than doubled my orignal investment! It has taken just over 9 months but worth the wait. Unfotunately the original flock has become rather too adventurous for my liking so I am going to have to put up a perimiter fence to stop them wandering across the road. I have already lost one to a collison with a car. (It ran into a moving car!). I am more concerned that local folk are likely to catch them and put them in the pot!
I am now going to have to build an extension to the 'barn' as the turkey population has also doubled! Perhaps its time for a BBQ!
Warmest regards
Mike